innocent girton

Last night was one of the more surreal evenings I've had so far (they tend to keep happening in this city). Dan Germain, Creative Director at Innocent Drinks, came back as an alumnus to tell us the story of the foundation of Innocent. I couldn't wait to geek out all evening with my social enterprise hat on. He was a fantastic speaker and a terrific guy. I admit that I'm very easily inspired - I walk out of every careers event declaring I've found my new path in life, but getting to meet Dan and sit with him over a meal with my friends blew my mind. He was genuinely interested in all of us, willing to give advice all evening and remembered us all by name (huge brownie points in my book). He'd mentioned in his talk before we took him to formal dinner that before Innocent he'd interned at a small design agency in Leicester. This was still niggling me in the hall and I chanced to ask him what the name of that agency was. The mother-of-all coincidences then smacked me in the face; the tiny agency is in fact where Andy got his first job and is working now. He wants to get in touch to reminisce. What a lucky boyfriend to be going out with me eh? Anyway, I'm documenting the evening as I want it to stay with me for a while. If you're ever bored click onto their website or look at some of the stuff they share on twitter - it's pretty cool. For decoration I'm going to add a picture of my favourite smoothie. 

(image from http://www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/things-we-make/smoothies/pomegranates-blueberries-acai)

on another note...

...probably the best pyjamas in Cambridge. It's time I showcased them.

to the river

This badboy tasted as good as it looks. Andy came to visit this weekend and after going out for a curry and some hardcore boozin' (hmm..) on Saturday night we spent our hangover watching Bake Off and going for another afternoon tea at the Orchard (that place makes a small fortune off us). It was perfect, for a bit, until I decided to have a go at baking macaroons having been inspired by Mary Berry that morning. Turns out not having an electric whisk and using the wrong sugar will not produce macaroons, but a gooey mixture that gets poured down the sink and an enormous strop. (Sorry Andy :P). 

p.s. I started writing my dissertation yesterday. It's terrifying.

my luve is like a red red rose

Happy Rabbie Burns' Day!!! This is as Scottish as I'm getting today, another one of those pretty 21st presents I got over the summer. It's difficult to feel Scottish when you're at the other end of the country and so in an attempt to connect with my roots here's my favourite Burns poem. In my dissertation research I've been labouring over translating and analysing ancient dog epitaphs, and so this one tickles me a little bit:

Epitaph on a lap-dog named Echo

In wood and wild, ye warbling throng, 
Your heavy loss deplore; 
Now, half extinct your powers of song, 
Sweet Echo is no more. 

Ye jarring, screeching things around, 
Scream your discordant joys; 
Now, half your din of tuneless sound 
With Echo silent lies.

I also found a clip of My Luve is like a Red Red Rose read by Prince Charles here. What more could you want?

this weather's going snowhere

One of those "I can't believe I go to uni here" moments.

So I got out in the snow because I felt I had to officially participate while it's here. Those gloves are a miracle - my Auntie Dan got them for me for Xmas and they're iphone/camera/driving-proof while still being really shmancy. Girton is a pretty good-looking college in the snow I must admit, I do feel lucky to be here. At the bottom those are geeky shots of my new moleskine planner in RED (it comes with stickers to remind you of really strange things like bad weather and shopping trips) and my new Assam loose leaf. I'm a convert - loose leaf is the only way. Ben Miller - the title is dedicated to you, I spent ages on that.

snow fun for me today (get it?!?!)

The snow came! And on cue my body has caught the lurgy and I've just spent the past 3 hours nesting in bed with soup & soldiers (yeah, at 21 I still cut my toast into soldiers), slipper socks, beechams and the dark recesses of BBC iplayer. I felt it coming on this morning and stuffed myself with berocca and fruit and porridge in a vain attempt to avoid becoming sick 2 days before the start of term but here we are. The photos aren't great - I'm not the biggest fan of the snow (miserable I know) and so a trip out for some more practice was definitely not on the agenda, and through-the-window shots sufficed. If you'll excuse me I'm heading back to my nest...

things i've convinced myself i need

There's nothing too interesting going on at the moment so posts are inevitably centring around non-adventures in my room, as that's where I'm sat working / pretending to work all day. With the Christmas money I got from family I've been carefully choosing potential purchases and savouring the online window shopping for things I potentially could afford. I've convinced myself I need these things at the moment. However the only ones I could realistically afford are the dress & shoes, would you believe it. The necklace is extortionate and I'm trying to find a lookalike that is as beautiful but so far I've not had much luck. I'll explain the antlers obsession later...